Torque shaft drive for laundry machine cylinders



June 27, 1933.

LE ROY C. SCHENCK TORQUE SHAFT DRIVE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINE CYLINDERS Filed Au 1, 1929 5 Sheets-Sheet l June 27, 1933,

I I LE ROY c. scHENcK TORQUE .smm DRIVE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINE CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 1,1929

3 Sheets-Sheet 2 [Tl/67%; le/fii June 27,1933. LE RdY c. SCHENCK 1,915,549

TORQUE SHAFT DRIVE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINE CYLINDERS Filed Aug. 1, 1929 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 I l & Q l I I l i f 4 N} w \1- Q \r U M F Q Q a r &

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I I A all] Patented June 27, 1 933 UNITED STATES new OFlC-E LE BOY C. SCHENCK, OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR T TROY LAUNDRY MACHINERY COMPANY, INC., OF EAST MOLINE, ILLINOIS, A CORPORATION OF DEL TORQUE SHAFT DRIVE FOR LAUNDRY MACHINE CYLINDERS Application filed August 1, 1929. eel-m1 No. 382,601.

My invention relates to improvements in laundry machines or drying tumblers wherein acy-linder is given continuous or intermittent rotary movement, andmore particularly to that type of machines having power driven cylinders.

Due :to the enormous scale on which modern laundries are being operated and the conse quent necessity for conserving vfloor space the drive shaft or power unit on washing machines, in particular, hasbeen-mounted on top of the cylinder shell so that it is slightly disposed to the rear. {This construction allows for a plurality of gear drives to be located on each side of the cylinders shell for the transmission of power direct from the rear drive shaft to the cylinder trunnions, and, at the same .time, conserves floorspace as the drive shaft does not project beyond the rear of the machine.

In order that theserequirements as to space can be maintained and so that the present capacity of laundry machines need not be reduced it is the purpose of .the'present invention to embody in a machine a type of single gearing and cylinder tube drive wherein the power from the rear power unit will be transmitted through a singleset of gears positioned at one side of the cylinder shell to the cylinder tube. To do this in ordinary cylinder construction would mean that a terrific torsional strain would be placed upon the cylinder and the cylinder trunnions at the instant of re-' versal. To employa single chain of gearing and at the same time to compensate for the torsional strain has required-a modification in cylinder, construction which in particular forms the subject matter of the present invention. f I r I To this end one of the objects of my invention lies in the construction of laundry machines employing a minimum number of parts and-which will be positive in operation and of sufiicient torsional strength in the mechanical I parts'to withstand the severe torsional strains impartedto the cylinder shaft.

' Another object of the present invention is in the construction of laundry machines embodying a single chain of gearing located at one side of the cylinder shell which will eliminate the rear drive shaft employed on the present type of machines without increasing the size of the entire unit so that the floor space necessary for the accommodation of the machines is not increased.

A still further object is to provide a laundry machine with a cylinder and cylinder shaft so constructed that the torsional strain from the shaft will be imparted to the cylin der at its center thereby equalizing the strain on both halvesof the cylinders length.

In the drawings, which illustrate an embodiment of the device and wherein like reference characters are used to designate like parts (I Figure 1 is a front sectional view showing the construction of the present invention;

Figure 2 is a side elevation of the device as viewed from the right in Figure 1 Figure 3 is a cross-sectional view taken on line 33 of Figure 1 showing the spider and locking key element;

Figure 4-is a sectional view showing a mod-ified arrangement of trunnion and journaling means for the end spiders; and

Figure 5 is a front sectional view of the modification shown in Figure 4.

. The conventional type of motor or power unit is mounted on the supporting base 12,, which base is in turn securely bolted or other: wise secured to the cylinder shell 14. The motor is provided with a shaft having a pinion 1-6 thereon. A chain belt 17 meshes with pinion 16 and a central intermediate gear 18. This gear is mounted directly on a shaft 20, which shaft is journaled in suitable roller bearings 24 and has an intermediate pinion 22 mounted thereon.

Mounted on or otherwise secured as by key 25 to the cylinder shaft 26 at the right end as shown in Figure 1 is a drive gear 28 which preferably meshes directlyv withthe intermediate pinion 22. The shaft 26 has bearings 30 located in each end of the cylinder shell for providing suitable mountings to allow for the rotation of the shaft. The cylinder is provided with two end spiders 84 and a central spider 36, the end spiders 34 being looselymou'nted on the cylinder shaft so that the shaft merely provides a bearing for said spiders. This construction allows for a torsional twist to be imparted to the shaft without imparting a consequent strain to the end spiders. The central spider 36 is securely fastened to the cylinder shaft by means of a plurality of keys 38 as is more clearly shown by reference to Figure 3. Any suitable securing means'may be employed for securingthe circumference of the spider 36 directly to the inside of the cylinder as is shown at 40. Direct rotary movement from the shaft is transmitted therefrom to the cylinder through the medium of the central spider 36. V

The spider 36 is constructed with a hub portion 42 having slots therein for accommodation of the keys 38. Cooperating slots are also provided in the shaft for the remaining portion of the keys whereby the shaftand spider are firmly secured together. A hub covering 44 consisting of Monel metal is shown covering both sides of the hub of the spider and the adjacent portions of the shaft. Thecovering 44 comprises a series of three triangular sections join ed together along a series of ribs 46 which, in effect, provides for a triangular chamber for entirely inclosing and housing the threekeys 38. The remaining portion of" the spider 5 on a each side is likewise covered with Monel metal plates 48, having "ribs 50 which are 1 joined t0- gether at points surrounding the hub portion and which therefore inolose the triangular chamber. The entire area inside the cylinder and that portion of the shaftwithin are finished in Monel metal-to provide a chamber best suitable to withstand the deteriorating effects of the water and one substantially rust proof. The Monelmeta-l covering of the shaft 26 is shown in Fig. 1 as a tubular member 47.

Theabove construction allows for several advantages, among which it will be seen is the fact that-0n reversals in the rotary movement to which the cylinder is subjected the cylinder shaft will be given severe torsional strain which will be taken up by the length of the shaft between-the central spider and the driving gear. This twist or torque on the shaft lessens the impact on the gears ,at the moment of reversal. Another advantage of the. construction :is in the omission of the rear drive shaft common in the types of machines on the market at present. With the omission of this rear drive shaft and the use of the single gearing and torque shaft drive amachine is secured havingmaterially less parts without substantially increasing the strength and sizeof theremaining mechanical parts to carry the required amount of load.

In the modified construction shown in Figure 4 the same construction shown in Figure 1 is employed except that the end spiders 13.4 are provided with a central trunnion 152 shaft 26 sothat'the shaft merely provides a bearing for the trunnion similar to the member.

has provided adjacent its hub portion a thrust washer 160 secured by means of bolts to the wall 135. c 1

In the operation of'the machine,as rotation is imparted to the gear 28 a similar movement will be given to the cylinder through the shaft "26 and central spider 36 as previously described. In order to remove the weight of the cylinder from the shaft 26 and to secure a more efficient operation of the mechanical parts throughout the machine, the end spiders are rovided with the trunnions 152 which are ournaled in the housing wall 135 through the roller bearings 130 as shown. This arrangement supports the entire weight of the cylinder on the shell through the medium oftheshell wall 135. As both spiders are journaled in the cylinder shell through the medium of the trunnions described, it is seen that the cylinder is mounted for rotation within the shell so that its weight is not carried by the cylinder shaft26. Driving means for the cylinder as will be obvious, consists of a length of shaft 26 extending between the driving gear 28 and the central spider 36.

It is to be understood that I do not wish to be limited by the exact embodiment of the device shown, which is merely by way of illustration and not limitation, as various and other forms ofthe device will of courseb'e apparent to those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention or thescope of the claims.

" Iclaim: i I v 1. In a laundry machine, in combination, a drum adapted to process laundry, a stationary shell surrounding the drum, a pair of spaced bearings supported by said shell, coaxial trunnions on said drum rotatablysupporting the drum. in said. bearings, an axial opening throughone of said trunnions, a shaft extending loosely through said opening, torque transmittingmeans connecting the shaft and the drum substantially midway between said bearings, and driving meansxfor said shaft disposed exteriorly ofsaid shell.

2. In a laundry machine, in combination, a substantially cylindrical shell, an elongated drum disposed Within said shell and having apair of axial trunnions rotatably mounted in said shell, means positioned within said drum and secured thereto at a plurality of points in a transverse plane substantially midway between said trunnions, a shaft having driving connection with said means and The drive gear 28 is secured to the shaft 26 by suitable keying means 25 and extending through one of said trunnions with a loose fit to the exterior of said shell, and driving means for said shaft. 7

3. In a laundry machine,-in combination, 5 a shell serving as a container for washing fluid, an elongated drum disposed within said shell, trunnions secured to said drum at the ends thereof and positioned coaxially with respect thereto, a torque shaft extending with 1 a loose fit through one of said trunnions to the exterior of said shell, means secured to said shaft and to said drum substantially midway between the ends of said drum, and driving means for said shaft disposed exteriorly of 1 said shaft.

Signed at East Moline, Illinois, this 27th day of July, 1929.

LE ROY G. SCHENCK. 

